No Sir- Emily Bishop (Glou) 1952 Kennedy
[From Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain & Ireland (1975) p. 315 by Peter Kennedy. The text begins similarly to Wakefield's print version but has the extra stanza at the end from tradition.
R. Matteson 2017]
NO SIR - sung by Emily Bishop of Bromsberrow Heath, Gloucestershire, 1952.
Tell me, will you tell me truly
Tell me, why you scorn me so
Tell me, why whene'er I ask you
Why you always answer no?
CHORUS: No sir, no sir, no sir
No-o-o-o-o sir
No sir, no sir,
No sir, no.
My father was a Spanish merchant
And before he went to sea
Told me to be sure ans answer
No to all you said to me
If when walking in the garden
Plucking flowers all wet with dew
Tell me, would you be offended
If I walked and talked to you?
If when walking in the garden
I should ask you to be mine
And should tell you that I loved you
Would you them my heart decline?
In the garden we were sitting
And her blushes she did show
Tell me would you be offended
If one kiss I did bestow?
Madam, may I tie your garter
Would you let me make so free
If I should be a little bolder
Would you think it wrong of me?
If to bed we went together
I would stay till cocks do crow
When I'd say: It's time to leave you
Would you ever let me go?